The Musumba Church was built 7 years ago, at least to the roof. They were promised roofing sheets from the conference, but they would have to go get them in Lubumbashi. They raised the $200 for transportation, but when they arrived at the warehouse, no roofing. Stiffed. This church is served by a pastor who just had his leg amputated at the hospital due to diabetes.
The church at Mpemba is the one that DS Mulongo wrote to us about several months ago as he reported the damages of the rain storms. It is mostly collapsed from the water. A rough grass roof sort of covers what is left. There is a foundation for a larger church just across the road that was built by this congregation 20 years ago, but with the change of leadership, it was never finished. An overgrown field hides the foundation of the building of their dreams.
The third church of our morning is across the sand street from the district superintendent's house. We slip into the living room for a Fanta and bananas. Their bookcase is covered with the “map of the world” fabric that Teri had purchased for Mulongo's wife at JoAnn's. Their twins are fast asleep on the overstuffed chair, angels at rest.
Musumba is a daughter church of Mulongo Centre. Its membership is made up of farmers and fishermen, not rich people. But they have managed to grow to 550 members and build a large building up to the roof. Dr. Ivan has contributed the timbers for the roof. The timbers are crowding out the center hallway in the DS's house. The sheets of roofing are still missing. While it was the Mulongo Centre Church that stayed open through the war, it was lay people from the Musumba Church that went there to help make that happen.
While we were there, a mother brought her baby for dedication. Always be prepared to pray for a new baby.
Bob
Mulongo
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